KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato — A government employee was arrested in a joint anti-drug operation on the evening of February 20, 2026, after authorities caught him allegedly selling illegal drugs in Barangay Lanao, raising renewed concerns over the involvement of public servants in the illegal drug trade.
Operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cotabato Provincial Office, working alongside the Kidapawan City Police Station and the Cotabato Provincial Police Office – Drug Enforcement Unit, carried out the buy-bust operation in Purok 3B, Bartolaba Subdivision, Barangay Lanao. The suspect, identified only by the alias “Jay,” 50, single, and an employee of the Kidapawan City Water District, was arrested after an undercover operative successfully purchased suspected shabu from him.
Authorities recovered approximately 10.1 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of ₱68,680. Also seized during the operation were the marked buy-bust money, a black pouch believed to have contained the illegal substance, and a mobile phone that investigators are now examining for possible leads on drug transactions and contacts.
Records obtained by authorities revealed that the suspect had already been placed under preventive suspension without pay for one year starting February 2, 2026 due to pending administrative cases. Investigators said the arrest highlights a troubling breach of public trust, as government workers are expected to uphold the law and serve as examples in their communities.
Officials stressed that the operation demonstrates that law enforcement will not hesitate to go after anyone involved in illegal drugs—regardless of position or employment in the government. They emphasized that public office should never become a shield for unlawful activities.
The suspect is now facing charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as well as Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code. He is currently detained at the PDEA-12 custodial facility while authorities prepare the formal filing of cases in court.